Teaching the World by Living It

Geography isn’t just about memorizing capitals and climate zones, but a window into the vibrant, complex tapestry of our planet. Mr. Davison doesn't just teach the world; he breathes it in, tastes its food, navigates its bustling cities and remote trails. His classroom, consequently, vibrates with an authenticity that only comes from lived experience, where textbook diagrams spring to life through tales of ancient city ruins, mountain ranges crossed, and connections forged across continents.

Mr. Davison at the City of London

Mr. Davison comes from Newcastle, northeast of England. There, he said, is very interesting “because it was very prominent during the Industrial Revolution”, playing a significant role in UK history. Growing up in this city, the seeds of interest in humanistic history and geography were sown in Mr. Davison’s heart.

In his childhood, Mr. Davison has always watched the news and thought that I’ve always been fascinated by what is happening around the world”. This is one of his lifelong interests. Watching the flashing footage from every part of the globe, the eagerness to step outside of the UK and to more deeply explore the world surged.

To begin, Mr. Davison travelled to Northern Ireland, completing his university education at the Ulster University . There, perhaps driven by his fascination with the essence of societies and nature, he studied Geography. The part he enjoys most as a Geography student is field trips.

He delightfully told me that he actually tried studying Pedology – the study of soil. He went on field trips into forests in Ireland to collect different soil samples, as well as working in labs to investigate these soils. I found it really interesting and significant, seeing how important soil is for human life and how soils are different in their chemistry in different conditions. He claimed that a lot of his old schoolmates thought “it sounds really dumb”, which gave both of us a laugh.

Another field trip was in Morocco, investigating urban growth. Now, this wasn't just an academic fieldwork, but an immersion into a city full of societal history. What struck me most was his sense of conflicted fascination. He spoke with deep respect for the city’s incredible cultural wealth – Arabic buildings and traditional leathers, yet his voice held an underlying concern – a geographer’s unease witnessing the immense pressure on infrastructure, water resources, and urban planning. “You feel the energy,” he said, “but you also see the strain.” His recollection painted a picture not just of urban expansion, but of a country alive with relentless and complex development, leaving him both exhilarated and deeply thoughtful.

During holidays, Mr. Davison also loved travelling. He visited most of South America, and his favorite was Peru. Recalling his pre-dawn ascent to Machu Picchu, Mr. Davison's voice still held a vibration of awe. 

Mr. Davison at the mountain top of Machu Picchu in 2006

"The abandoned city wasn't empty silence,” he claimed, “but a listening silence”, perhaps listening to the echo from both past and present. I can picture Mr. Davison standing there, dwarfed by mountains that shaped this place, and marvel at the human ingenuity lost in the river of history.

After graduation, he continued to explore the world and began the process to unveil his true interest. He discovered later that he is a “people-person” who appreciates building connections with people, and thus, chose to begin his teaching career for the next 35 years. But as a traveller, he successively went to the UK, Spain, and finally China to teach.

Mr. Davison came to China in 2015 and has taught at YK Pao since then. Now, although already settled in Shanghai for over 10 years, he did not stop travelling. As an IB Geography teacher, he brings students to Yangshuo (Guangxi, China) every year for geography field trips. 

Mr. Davison doing river investigation fieldwork in Yangshuo with his students, 2023

The first trip after COVID in 2023, he recalled, “the students became very emotional… There were lots of tears, students crying with happiness.” Seeing his students again after all the quarantines and online lessons, “I felt all the pure happiness and warmth swarming over me”, he smiled.

Every year, “I love the trips,” he chuckled, “I can both work and have fun at the same time.” Mr. Davison transfers his love of exploring the world to the students, enjoying the beautiful rivers, undulating mountain ranges, and the wonderful moments with friends. 

“Life is all about exploring,” he concluded. And for the next destination of his adventures around the globe, he liked it to be Australia – the opposite end of his home country UK. Seems like another peculiar and fascinating expedition of cultures and natures to look forward to!